Amador County

• Shenandoah Valley

This is a blend of 40% Mourvèdre, 34% Grenache, and 26% Syrah.  It is a big wine that is ripe and delicious.  The nose has black raspberries, blue berries, roasted meat and herbs, black pepper and some cherries.  On the palate, this is big.  Firm tannins.  Juicy black raspberry and blueberry fruit with an underlying minerality.  It softens a bit in the glass.  It is great on its own but a difficult food match at present.  It will most certainly evolve and gain integration over the next five to ten years at which time it will be great with cassoulets and roasted foods.  No regrets about open

I am a big fan of the Chenin Blanc grape and Sandlands makes some of the best in California!  They have a low alcohol but at the same time, these are not wispy or lacking in fruit.  Light bronze/gold in color.  The nose is great with lemons, wax, slight orange peel and minerals.  On the palate, this is lean but solid.  Nice acidity.  A bit of lemon, over a nice steely minerality.  Nice finish.  Worked great on its own but will work with lighter foods and even a burger.  Probably should last for 5 to 8 more years, but perhaps even longer.  It would be fun to put a bottle away and these are n

Not quite as good as the 2013 but still a very nice value.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has dusty plums with slight cherry notes.  On the palate, more tart cherries.  The acidity is very food friendly.  Good finish.  This wine is more simple, one dimensional.  But for under $20, it works well at the dinner table.  It might not make old bones but should easily last five to seven years.  

Inky purple in color.  The nose has black cherries with slight bramble notes.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Silky.  Black cherry fruit with a bit of cocoa on the finish.  There is nice depth here.  Long finish.  This retails for about $18 which is an excellent value.  It won't get better but should drink well for at least five and probably ten years.  It worked well with a slightly gingery squash soup.  

2007 was an excellent year for Zinfandel and the Easton Zins are no exception.  This wine is purple in color.  It has a great nose bordering on a right bank Bordeaux with some age.  Deep with black cherries and some tobacco.  On the palate, it seems to be youthful still but showing some maturity.  Juicy black cherry fruit.  There is a nice complexity here.  Good finish.  Food friendly.  It might not get better but should be here for a while.  

This was the top wine in a comprehensive vertical of Easton Zinfandels.  Purple in color.  What a great nose; deep with black cherry fruit  notes.  On the palate, this is a claret styled Zin.  Deep and a nice complexity.  Wonderful texture.  Lots of black cherry fruit.  Nice finish.  A delicious wine that is drinking great today and should be here for a decade.  Food friendly or great on its own.  

Purple in color.  Clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries and black olives.  With air, some tart cranberries on the nose.  Medium tannins.  Good black cherry fruit on the palate.  A bit clipped on the finish.  Overall, this is in a good place and drinking nicely but with some maturity.  Impressive at age 14.  Easily seems like it has a decade left.  

Purple in color, with ruby swirls.  The nose has some volatile acidity but just a bit which serves to raise the aromatics in a good way.  Cherries and dust.  On the palate, this is less ripe than the other vintages in a comprehensive vertical.  That is not a bad thing.  There is still plenty of black cherry fruit with good acidity.  This may be one of the longer lasting wines.  Good finish.  It is also quite food friendly at this point.  Easily has a decade of good drinking left.  

Purple in color.  Clear and bright.  The nose is nice with dusty black cherries and slight volatile acidity.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet with slight tannins.  Ripe black cherry fruit.  Really delicious and drinking quite well right now.  Just getting to a mature claret style zinfandel.  Easily has a decade more of good drinking.  Food friendly.  

I first tried this wine a few years ago and was impressed by how well it had help.  It has aged  a bit since then but still is remarkably fresh.  This was bolder in style than the Fiddletown.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries and bramble.  Juicy acidity on the palate.  More plum fruit as well.  Overall a very nice and delicious Zin  Food friendly and seemingly with another decade left.